Catalog

Preliminary Education Specialist Credential

Dr. Judith Doktor
Program Director
(650) 508-3627
jdoktor@ndnu.edu

NDNU's Education Specialist Credential program prepares students to teach in special education programs in public and private schools. Mild/Moderate credential holders will be able to teach students in Resource Specialist Program classes (K-12) and students in special day classes for learning disabilities. Moderate/Severe credential holders will be able to teach students in grades K-12 whose needs are more severe. Candidates may be hired by school districts to serve as paid interns while earning the credential.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of a Preliminary Single Subject Credential

  • Candidates will be able to develop a shared vision of learning.
  • Candidates will be able to promote a culture of teaching and learning.
  • Candidates will be able to effectively manage a school in the service of teaching and learning.
  • Candidates will be able to work effectively with diverse families and communities.
  • Candidates will be able to demonstrate personal ethics and leadership capacity.
  • Candidates will be able to demonstrate political, social, economic, legal, and cultural understanding of education.

Students may obtain an Education Specialist Credential without a prior teaching credential. This requires 43 credits in contrast to the 30 units required for those with a prior credential. Work toward an Education Specialist Credential may be simultaneous with work toward a regular credential (either Multiple Subject or Single Subject). This requires between 37 and 55 units depending on previous preparation. It is expected that students will come with a variety of backgrounds. A program plan is arranged for each student when he/she meets with the Program Director.

Transfer students must complete a minimum of 15 semester units of credit at Notre Dame de Namur University, including at least one semester of student teaching or internship in the teacher preparation program in order to be recommended for a teaching credential.

The following summarizes the requirements for the Preliminary Level I Education Specialist Instruction Credential recommendation through NDNU. Asterisked items are required for student teaching or internship eligibility:

  1. *Prerequisite: Verification of 40 hours of pre-acceptance field experience by completing NDNU’s course, EDU2006, or by teaching or volunteer experience completed with appropriate age in a school setting. Provide the original form signed by the site supervisor, or provide official letter of verification from the site. 
  2. Successfully complete student teaching or internship and required courses (includes courses that allow authorization to teach English Learners)
  3. *Passage of Basic Skills Requirement (e.g., CBEST or for more options, see http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl667.pdf)
  4. *Verification of Subject Matter Competence (e.g., CSET in Multiple Subjects)
  5. *Verification of fingerprinting clearance on file with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (also called a “Certificate of Clearance”). For more information, see http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl271.pdf.
  6. *Copy of negative TB test result from within two years
  7. *Signed NDNU Release of Liability Form
  8. Verification of meeting the U.S. Constitution requirement by exam, course work, or CSU degree
  9. Pass the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) by the end of your program
  10. Verification of employment as an Education Specialist in a CA public school district, nonpublic school or agency, or county office of education. If you don’t have an offer, a Certificate of Eligibility will be applied for instead.
Required Courses       Units
   
EDU4107                    Foundations for Teaching English Learners*      3
EDU4200                    Special Education Program Management            3
EDU4203                    Clinical Assessment    4
EDU4207                    Technology - Special Education   3
EDU4209                    Counseling - Special Education     3
EDU4230                    Student/Intern Teaching and Seminar in Special Education 8
One Curriculum and Instruction Adaptations course from the following:    3 
EDU4234                    Curriculum and Instruction Adaptations (Mild/Moderate)  
EDU4237                    Curriculum and Instruction Adaptations (Moderate/Severe)  
EDU4330                    Elementary Reading/Language Arts: Primary Grades*    3
   
Total Unit Requirement      30
   
Additional course work is required for those who enter without a prior credential:  
EDU4100                    Psychological and Developmental Foundations     3
EDU4104                    Sociological and Multicultural Foundations    3
EDU4333                    Elementary Reading/Language Arts: Upper Grades     3
EDU4336                    Curriculum – Elementary Math       2
EDU4339                    Curriculum – Social Studies/Science       2
   
Total Unit Requirement 43
*Foundation course in Multiple or Single Subject Credential                 

Students may complete course work in addition to the Education Specialist Credential in order to earn a master's degree. See Master of Arts in Special Education for further information.